Björk has revealed her childhood friend, musician Magga Stína, was “kidnapped” by the Israeli army while on a Gaza aid mission.
“She sailed on a boat following Greta Thunberg in trying to open the path for international aid to Gaza,” Björk wrote on Instagram. “I believe activism is as diverse as humans are. I support Magga Stína and Greta doing everything possible to try to stop the genocide in Palestine. It is illegal to starve people and hinder that food arrives to children.”
The artist continued by stating that her native Iceland has been “first” in recognizing the independence of many small nations. “We know after being a colony for 600 years what it feels like to be suppressed,” she explained. “Even though we are few, our voice matters and we can continue to set an example of having the courage to rise up against oppression and represent peace.”
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“I ask Icelandic authorities to follow their own support for Palestine 11 years ago, to stop all business interactions with Israel until the genocide in Gaza stops and fight for Magga Stína’s safe return,” she continued. “And in the same spirit: I ask all the world to bring every single nations hostage home.”
The Icelandic daily newspaper Morgunblaðið reports that Stína’s family has also called on the government to do everything in its power to negotiate her release. Her ship, The Conscience, was one of nine vessels in a flotilla headed to Gaza in response to the humanitarian and famine crisis.
This mirrors an incident from early June involving Greta Thunberg’s ship, Madleen. While in international waters, the vessel was reportedly attacked with a chemical spray from drones before being boarded by Israeli forces, who detained the 12 people on board. Thunberg was subsequently deported.
In late September, Björk joined the “No Music for Genocide” mass boycott, geo-blocking her music on Israeli streaming services.